Pupils must stay away from school: report

Cosatu and teachers' unions have asked high school pupils to take a day off to join a protest march against education inequality, it was reported on Tuesday.

"We feel everyone must make a sacrifice of one day to highlight the inadequacy of their schools," Western Cape Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) secretary Tony Ehrenreich told The Cape Times.

Grade 10 to Grade 12 pupils were reportedly asked to join in the march to Parliament on Wednesday.

Cosatu and the SA Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) said similar marches would be held across the country to draw public attention to the call for the resignations of Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and education director-general Bobby Soobrayan.

Union members were protesting because Motshekga had withdrawn from an agreement which would have increased the tariffs paid to matric markers. They were also protesting about the Limpopo textbook saga, school closures in the Western Cape and education inequality.

Sadtu provincial secretary Jonovan (SUBS: CORR) Rustin told the newspaper teachers had already discussed how they would make up the work missed.

According to The Cape Times, provincial education MEC Donald Grant said the march was not in the best interests of pupils.

"Once again, the best interests of learners are being placed at risk at what is for all of them a critical time in the academic year," his spokeswoman Bronagh Casey said.

"As usual, everything will be done to minimise any disruption for the learners."

-Sapa

November 2017

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